.hack//G.U.

First look at the next generation of .hack!

The World is back, and by that we mean the fictional MMO that exists within the .hack universe, this time in the upcoming sequel to Bandai's innovative, million-selling, original four-part series. The sequel, which is titled .hack//G.U., showcases the return of Kite, albeit in far more sinister form, as well as a whole new cast of characters. Will Kite be the focus of .hack//G.U.? We don't think so, although we are not in fact actually sure. What we do know is that the latest journey into "The World" will feature a whole new cast of characters, and a new storyline.

Perhaps the best news for fans of the original series is that Yoshiyuki Sadamoto (Evangelion) has returned in the role of character designer, and Kazunori Ito, script and scenario writer for Ghost in the Shell and Patlabor is also back for .hack//G.U. The only downside to this highly-anticipated RPG for the PlayStation 2 is that it wont arrive until sometime in 2006, when Xbox 360 and PS3-mania will be in full swing. Still, as evidenced by the surprisingly unique-looking trailer (as opposed to the original), it looks like the world of .hack has grown even more sophisticated and action-oriented. Perhaps developer CyberConnect's time developing the Smash Brothers-like Naruto games for Bandai has influenced its direction. Only time will tell, but rest assured we're getting to the bottom of things as we speak. For the time being, whet your appetite with the awesome trailer, which clocks in at nearly six minutes long.